Nestled among the Swiss Alps and facing out onto the majestic Lake Maggiore, the city of Locarno is a pictureseque meeting place for cinephiles every August. Here is everything you need to know to organize your trip to Locarno this summer.
Connected to the rest of Switzerland and Europe by an extensive rail network, Locarno is an easy place to reach by train.
Public transport within Ticino & Moesano (Arcobaleno integrated fare network) is included with any Festival ticket or pass for the duration of their validity, thanks to our partnership with SBB. In case of inspection, simply present your Festival ticket or pass. In addition, during the Festival you can benefit from the special event train departing every night at 2 am from Locarno to Lugano-Mendrisio.
Plus, thanks to SBB RailAway, enjoy a 20% discount on a Day Pass when travelling from the German or French part of Switzerland: discover more.
Locarno can be easily reached from Milan Malpensa MXP (Italy) and Zurich Airport (Switzerland). SWISS has multiple daily flights from all over Europe and is therefore a good alternative for those coming from afar.
We recommend consulting the Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) timetable here or downloading the SBB app to plan your onward connection.
We strongly suggest arriving in Locarno using public transport, but should you arrive by car then you can make use of the Park and Ride, which has a free shuttle service every 20 minutes from 8.30 am to 9.30 pm. You can also find a list of parking lots in Locarno here.
Take a trip up to Santuario della Madonna del Sasso, one the most important religious and historical sites in the canton of Ticino. During the Festival, the funicular is available every 15 minutes from 8.05 am to 8.10 pm and operates every 30 minutes from 8.10 pm until 0.25 am. Anyone with an accreditation or a Festival Pass benefit from 50% discount on a return ticket for the Locarno-Orselina route. For more information, please visit their website.
During the Festival, in addition to regular services, a special night train will depart from Locarno every night at 2 am, heading towards Lugano and Mendrisio. On the night between August 10 and 11, a replacement bus will operate instead. More information is available here.
All other connections can be found on sbb.ch or via the SBB app.
A special ride 20 minutes after the first and second screenings in Piazza Grande is available for free.
Every night the Gambarogno Tourist Office organizes a free bus service from Locarno to Gambarogno 30 minutes after the end of the first screening in Piazza Grande. The bus will be located in close proximity to the building of La Posta (Via della Pace).
For more information contact the Gambarogno Tourist Office at +41 (0)91 759 77 04.
